Envelope



M. VOGEL ENVELOPE March 3,1936.

Original Filed July 30. 1952 Reissued Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE Max Yogel, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Gcrmny 11 Claims. (01. zzs'-sz) The present invention relates to envelopes in I which cooperating adhesive surfaces are provided on the flap and on a portion of the body of the envelope, the two adhesive surfaces being brought together in closing the flap to thus seal the envelope. The adhesive coating is preferably of a type which, even when moistened, will not stick or adhere to uncoated areas of the paper or other envelope material, but will firmly stick to the'same adhesive substance, asuitable substance of this character being a solution of para rubber in gasoline. For convenience this substance be- -cause of itanroperty of adhering to itself without the necessity of moistening it. will hereinafter be referred to as dry-adhesive. v Envelope structures heretofore in use were unsatisfactory ior the use of such cooperating adhesive surfaces, particularly because of the fact that the adhesive surfaces would be apt to stick together prematurely, would be exposed to dust when they were out of contact with each' other,

and it was not possible to stack the envelopes or run them in a printing press or typewriter, without likelihood of the surfaces becoming stuck toas gether.

It is proposed in the present invention to provide an envelope structure in which the adhesive surfaces will be protected from contact with each other before use, while at the same time they 80 will be protected from exposure. Another object is to provide a structure which will facilitate insertion of enclosures into the envelope. A further object is to provide a structure which will protect the enclosures against the possibility of 35 accidental cutting by a letter-opener.

With the above and other objects in view embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with refer- 40 ence thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of the rear side of an en velope according to one illustrated exemplary 45 embodiment of the invention, the same being shown in its unsealed relation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

50 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary planview with the top sealing flap raised preparatory to inserting an enclosure.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

contact with each other. 55 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing both the upper and lower closing flaps raised preparatory to sealing.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the. line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary plan view showing the flaps closed and sealed.

Fig. 8 is.a sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. I

. Fig. 91s a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of the invention, and showing the envelope 10 in its unsealed relation.

Fig. 10 is asectional view, taken along the line iii-Ill of F18. 9.

Fig. '11 is a fragmentarypl an view, showing the envelope sealed.- 15 Fig. 12 is a sectional view, taken along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Similar. reference characters indicate correspondi s parts throughout the several figures of the drawins. 20

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, the envelope comprises a front or address-side portion ill, side flaps I IIl bent inwardly from the side edges of the portion i0, and aback portion i2, suitably secured as by the usual pasting methods, to the side flaps. A closing flap i3 is provided at the upper edge of the front portion ill, and another closing flap It is provided at the upper edge of the back portion I I. Said flap portion ll, being above and beyond the pasted areas that connect the back portion l! with the side flaps 'II', II, is free to be folded down, if desired, as here shown, the fold being parallel to and slightly spaced from or substantially coinciding with the lower edge of the flap II, when the latter is folded over, as shown in Fig. 1. In either case, whether the flap portion ll be folded or left un'folded, said flap portion constitutes a free extension of the back portion if, the upper edge proper of the latter being at a level which coincides substantially with the tops of the pasted areas that Join said back portion tothe side flaps II, II. A strip of dryadhesive i3 is provided on the inner side of the flap It, and 'a similar strip of dry adhesive It is provided on that side of the flap it which is the inner side when said flap is folded down -as shown. Before use and when stacked the closing fiap II is folded down into the spaceleft by the folding down of the flap ll; as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. so that both adhesive surfaces are inside and concealed from dirt and dust, and are out of D The envelope may thus be printed upon, inserted in a typewriter, sorted and otherwise handled as an ordinary envelope,

as no position carrying the dry adhesive substance isexpcsed,ordisposedinsuchrelationastopreurely contact the adhesive strips. I

flaps i8 and insertinganenclosure boththe ll may be grasped, thus widening the opening for more convenient insertion of the enclosure.

and 8. the dry-adhesive strips contact each other and by a slight pressure applied to the outer side of the flap I I are cementitiously joined to each other.

For facilitating the opening of the envelope by a letter opener, and at the same time prevent the cutting of the enclosures by the action of the opener, the side flaps ll preferably have ears II. at their upper ends, which fasten under the adhesive strips, and thus deflect the opener from the edge of the letter, and at the same time permit the opener to be conveniently inserted because of the fact that the dry adhesive does not adhere to these ears and therefore provides a small slot or space for entrance of the tip of the opener.

The side edges of the back If, the side flaps "-4 l, and the flaps II and are preferably cut diagonally, but obviously may be otherwise suitably arranged.

In Figs. 9 to 12, 1 have illustrated a modiiication in which dry-adhesive strips l3 and I 4' are provided on the outddes oi the respective flaps if and it. In closing the envelopeafter inserting and enclosure, the closing flap l3 isfirst folded down. and the flap it is then folded over it as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. For printing and for stacking the flap It may be raised up, so that the adhesive strip is inside. Also the flap it may be folded upon the front of the envelope, so that both adhesive strips are concealed and at the same time are out of contact with each other.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scopethereof as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described myinvention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In an envelope, front andback portions. a pair of closing flaps foldable relatively to said front and back portions and each having an adhesive substance upon one surface, the adhesive substance upon one of said flaps adapted to adhere to the adhesive substance upon the other flap upon contact therewith.

2. In an envelope, front andback portions having flaps at the upper edge, the upper edge of one portion being below the upper edge of the other, said flaps adapted to be folded into superimposed relation to close the envelope, and each having an adhesive substance upon one surface. the ad hesive substance upon one of said flaps adapted to adhere-to the adhesive substance upon the other flap upon contact therewith.

3. In an envelope, front and back portions having flaps at the upper edges, the upper edge of one portion being below the upper edge of the other, to an extent at least equal to the width of the flap of the said other portion, said flaps adapted to be folded into superimposed relation to close the envelope and each having an adhesive substance upon one surface,-the adhesive substance upon one of said flaps adapted to admass hereto theadhesivesubstanceupontbeother flap upon contact therewith.

4. m an envelope, front and back portions. a foldable closing flap carried by said front portion; a second foldable closing flap carried by said back portion, an adhesive substance on one side of. each of said flaps, the adhesive substance. upon one of saidflaps adapted to adhere to the adhesive. substance upon the other flap upon contact therewith, said flaps adapted in one position to lie flat upon said front and back portions respectively with the adhesive surfaces out of contact with each other, and with one flap in the other position to be superimposed upon each other with the adhesive surfaces contacting.

5. In an envelope, front and back portions, a foldable closing nap carried by said front portion; a second foldable closing flap carried bysaid back portion, an adhesive substance on one side of each of said flaps, the adhesive substance upon one of said flaps adapted to adhere to the adhesive substance upon the other flap upon contact therewith, said flaps adapted in one position 7 to lie flat upon said front and back portions respectively with the adhesive surfaces out of contact with each other and disposed inwardly against the envelope surfaceto conceal them,

and with one flapintheother positiontobe superimposed upon each other with the adhesive surfaces contacting.

8. In an envelope, front and back having flaps at the upper edges, the upper edge to close the envelope and each having an adhesive substance upon one surface, 'the adhesive substance upon one of said flaps adapted to adhere to the adhesive substance upon the other flap upon contact therewith, and side flaps on one ofsaid portions secured to the under side 'of the other portion and having portions extending into the spaces between said upper edges, to de fleet a letter opener inserted between said side flaps and said flap on the upper edge of said back portionaway from the contents of the enclosure.

7. In an envelope, front and back portions, a pair of foldable flaps (m the upper edges of said portions. an adhesive substance upon one side of one of said flaps, an adhesive substance disposed and concealed between the second flap and the outer surface of the envelope in one position of said flap and adapted to be exposed in the other position of said flap, said first-mentioned adhesive substance adapted to adhere to said secondmentioned adhesive substance upon contact therewith, said flaps adapted in one position to lie in substantially parallel relation to said front and back portions and below the respective upper edges thereof with said adhesive substances out of contact with each other, and with said second flap in its said other position to expose said second-mentioned adhesive substance to superimposition of said other flap thereon with said first-mentioned adhesive substance contacting with said second-mentioned adhesive substance.

8. In an envelope, front and back portions, united at the bottom and at portions of the opposite sides .to provide a pocket, a flap carried-by said front portion and foldable to close the open unsecuredat itsends and having an areaof dry-sealing adhesive on one surface, said foldable fiap also having an area of dry-sealing adhesive for cooperation with said first mentioned area.

9, In an envelope, front and back portions, united at the bottom and at portions of the opposite sides to provide a pocket, a fiap carried by said front portion and foldable to close the open upper end of said pocket, the upper marginal edge section of said back portion being free and unsecured at its ends and having an area of drysealing adhesive on one surface at the same side of said back portion as the inner unexposed surface of saidback portion, said foldabie fiap also having anarea of dry-sealing adhesive for cooperation with said first mentioned area.

10. In an envelope, 9. front wall portion and a back wall portion, side fiaps and a closure fiap carried by said front wall portion, said side flaps being secured to said back wall portion for less than the height of said back wall portion to leave its upper marginal edge section free and unsecured. said upper marginal edge section having an area of dry-sealing adhesive on onesm'face,

fiap having on one surface a coating of dry-seal-j ing adhesive which, in said folded-over position of said fiap can oppose andccntaot the inside surface of said front wall portion, being permitted so to do by the freedom of said upper margin, or can oppose and contact the dry-sealing adhesive coating on said margin, for the sealing of said envelope.

. MAX VOGEL. 

